A scan mechanism and method of scanning in which the sides of the scanning mirror have variable facet angles movable between at least two positions for providing multiple reflection angles for the mirror facet(s). In one configuration, the mirror facets of a rotating polygon are mounted and arranged such that the angular orientation of the mirror facets changes depending upon the rotational speed of the polygon.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of scanning comprising the steps of providing a polygon mirror with a base and a plurality of mirror facets; rotating the polygon mirror at a first rotational speed with the mirror facets in a first position relative to the base; generating an optical beam and directing the optical beam onto the polygon mirror; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the first position to produce a first set of scanned beams; rotating the polygon mirror at a second rotational speed; moving the mirror facets to a second position relative to the base corresponding to the second rotational speed; providing stops for preventing flexure of the mirror facets beyond the second position; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the second position to produce a second set of scanned beams.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising mounting each of the mirror facets at one end thereof to the base such that angular orientation of the mirror facet changes via centrifugal force depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror thereby moving the mirror facets to the second position.
3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising mounting the mirror facets to the base via a hinged connection.
4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising mounting the mirror facet to the base via a flexible connection between the mirror facet and the base.
5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising preventing flexure of the mirror facets beyond the second position.
6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising providing stops for preventing flexure of the mirror facets beyond the second position.
7. A method of scanning comprising the steps of scanning comprising the steps of providing a polygon mirror with a base and a plurality of mirror facets; rotating the polygon mirror at a first rotational speed with the mirror facets in a first position relative to the base; generating an optical beam and directing the optical beam onto the polygon mirror; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the first position to produce a first set of scanned beams; rotating the polygon mirror at a second rotational speed; moving the mirror facets to a second position relative to the base corresponding to the second rotational speed; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the second position to produce a second set of scanned beams; flexibly connecting each of the mirror facets at one end thereof to a base of the polygon mirror; changing angular orientation of the mirror facets via centrifugal force depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror, wherein the base and the mirror facets are integrally constructed in one piece with a flexible connection therebetween comprised of a reduced wall thickness at the connection.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the base and the mirror facets are integrally constructed in one piece with a flexible connection therebetween comprised of a reduced wall thickness at the connection.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of moving the mirror facets to a second position further comprises mounting the mirror facet to a base of the polygon mirror such that position of the mirror facet to the base changes via centrifugal force depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of moving the mirror facets to a second position comprises incrementally controlling rotational speed of the polygon mirror to shift the mirror facets between the first position and the second position.
11. A method of scanning comprising the steps of providing a polygon mirror with a base and a plurality of mirror facets; rotating the polygon mirror at a first rotational speed with the mirror facets in a first position relative to the base; generating an optical beam and directing the optical beam onto the polygon mirror; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the first position to produce a first set of scanned beams; rotating the polygon mirror at a second rotational speed; moving the mirror facets to a second position relative to the base corresponding to the second rotational speed; scanning the optical beam with the mirror facets in the second position to produce a second set of scanned beams; wherein the step of moving the mirror facets to a second position comprises translating the mirror facets radially outward along a track in response to centrifugal force dependidng upon the rotational speed of the polygon mirror.
12. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a support and a plurality of mirror facets, wherein at least one mirror facet being movably attached to the support between a first position and a second position depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly, wherein the mirror facets and the support are formed in a one-piece integral construction.
13. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a support and a plurality of mirror facets, wherein at least one mirror facet being movably attached to the support between a first position and a second position depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly.
14. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a base and a plurality of mirror facets attached at one end thereof to the base, the mirror facets being movable relative to the base in respond to rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly, wherein the base and the mirror facets are integrally constructed in one piece with a flexible connection therebetween comprised of a reduced wall thickness at the connection.
15. A scanning system according to claim 13 wherein the mirror facets and the support are formed in a one-piece integral construction.
16. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a base and a plurality of mirror facets disposed about an outer periphery of the base, wherein each mirror facet having a fixed end attached to the base and a free end distal to the base, the mirror facet being disposed at a first angle to the base when the polygon mirror assembly is rotated at a first rotational speed and flaring radially outward to a second angle to the base when the polygon mirror is rotated to a second higher rotational speed, wherein the base and the mirror facets are formed in a one-piece integral construction.
17. A scanning system according to claim 16 further comprising a motor operably connected to the rotating polygon mirror assembly for rotating the polygon mirror assembly; a controller operably connected to the motor for controlling speed of the motor between at least a first rotational speed and a second rotational speed; a light source directing a reading beam onto the mirror facets; wherein the mirror facets move to a first position relative to the base when the polygon mirror is rotated at the first rotational speed and wherein the mirror facets move to a second position relative to the base when the polygon mirror is rotated at the second rotational speed.
18. A scanning system according to claim 16 wherein the base and the mirror facets are integrally constructed in one piece with a flexible connection therebetween comprised of a reduced wall thickness at the connection.
19. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a base and a plurality of mirror facets disposed about an outer periphery of the base, wherein each mirror facet having a fixed end attached to the base and a free end distal to the base, the mirror facet being disposed at a first angle to the base when the polygon mirror assembly is rotated at a first rotational speed and flaring radially outward to a second angle to the base when the polygon mirror is rotated at a second higher rotational speed.
20. A scanning system according to claim 19 further comprising a motor operably connected to the rotating polygon mirror assembly for rotating the polygon mirror assembly; a controller operably connected to the motor for controlling speed of the motor between at least the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed; a light source directing a reading beam onto the mirror facets, wherein a first set of scanning beams is produced by scanning the reading beam off the mirror facets when the motor is rotated at the first rotational speed with the mirror facets disposed at the first angle and wherein a second set of scanning beams is produced by scanning the reading beam off the mirror facets when the polygon mirror assembly is rotated at the second rotational speed with the mirror facets disposed at the second angle.
21. A scanning system according to claim 19 wherein each of the mirror facets is attached to the base via a flexible connection.
22. A scanning system according to claim 19 wherein each of the mirror facets is attached to the base via a hinged connection.
23. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a support and a plurality of mirror facets, wherein at least one mirror facet being movably attached to the support between a first possition and a second position depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly; a handholdable housing having a switch, wherein actuation of the switch being operable to change rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly from a first speed which is operative for positioning the at least one mirror facet to the first position and a second speed operative to position the mirror facet at the second position.
24. A method according to claim 1 wherein rotational speed speed of the polygonal mirror is continuously adjustable between the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed.
25. A scanning system comprising: a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a support and a plurality of mirror facets, wherein at least one mirror facet being movably attached to the support between a first position and a second position depending upon rotation speed of the polygon mirror assembly; a handholdable housing wherein the system is operable to switch between a first scanning mode optimized for a fixed mode of operation and a second scanning mode optimized for a portable mode of operation, wherein rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly is controlled to actuate between the fixed mode and the portable mode.
26. A method of scanning comprising the steps of providing a polygon mirror assembly with a plurality of mirror facets arranged around a periphery thereof; directing an optical beam onto the polygon mirror assembly; generating a scan pattern by rotating the polygon mirror assembly to scan the optical beam across consecutive mirror facets; changing the scan pattern between a first pattern comprising a single scan line and a second pattern comprising a plurality of intersecting scan lines by chaning rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly.
27. A scanning system according to claim 13 further comprising a handholdable housing having a switch, wherein actuation of the switch being operable to change rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly from a first speed which is operative for positioning the at least one mirror facet to the first position and a second speed operative to position the mirror facet at the second position.
28. A scanning system according to claim 27 wherein the switch comprises a manually actuable trigger.
29. A scanning system according to claim 13 further comprising: a handholdable housing wherein the system is operable to switch between a first scanning mode optimized for a fixed mode of operation and a second scanning mode optimized for a portable mode of operation, wherein rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly is controlled to actuate between the fixed mode and the portable mode.
30. A scanning system comprising a rotating polygon mirror assembly having a plurality of mirror facets movably attached around a periphery thereof; a motor operably connected to the rotating polygon mirror assembly for rotating the polygon mirror assembly; a controller operably connected to the motor for controlling speed of the motor to adjust rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly; wherein position of the mirror facets shifts relative to each other depending upon rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly.
31. A scanning system according to claim 30 wherein the polygon mirror assembly comprises a support rotatably driven by the motor, the mirror facets being mounted on the support via a connection which permits the facets to move relative thereto via centrifugal force applied by rotation of the polygon mirror assembly.
32. A method of scanning comprising the steps of providing a polygon mirror assembly with a plurality of mirror facets arranged around a periphery thereof; directing an optical beam onto the polygon mirror assembly; generating a scan pattern by rotating the polygon mirror assembly to scan optical beam across consecutive mirror facets; changing the scan pattern by changing rotational speed of the polygon mirror assembly.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 13, 1998
November 20, 2001
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.